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Rowhani dismisses biased claim by western media on Iran's nuclear file

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 16, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear-Rowhani
Former secretary general of Iran Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) in reaction to claims of some Western press regarding Iran's nuclear dossier said here Wednesday that Iran's confidence building measures over its nuclear activities were voluntary.

Hassan Rowhani, who was speaking to IRNA, raised the issue to counter assertions by some Western media claiming that Iran's activities were against its agreement with Europe.

Some Western media had published articles on Tuesday asserting that Iran has engaged in nuclear-related activities which infringe the agreement inked with European countries and asserted that Tehran has in fact deceived Europe."
"The issue of Western media publishing innuendos and lies is nothing new and they have always used these tools to shape and distort public opinion," Rowhani underscored.

"Our people are fully aware of such worthless tactics by the Western media."
"We did not intend to answer such baseless claims because the issue was so transparent and clear that replying to the issue would seem repetitive," Rowhani said .

Firstly, all suspension by Iran has been voluntary and aimed at creating confidence and proving its good intentions, he added.

Iran, had previously, in all phases of suspension, delivered written texts to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and based on the watchdog's inspection and reports, the mutual agreements between Iran and the IAEA have been abided fully by Tehran, Rowhani stated.

"There has not been any contravention of provisions of the signed agreements by Tehran reported."
Secondly, the other point is that Iran accepted the suspension of uranium enrichment at Isfahan facility in November 2004 and did not accept the suspension before that date and of course the Isfahan facility was under the monitoring of the nuclear watchdog agency, Rowhani underlined.

All the voluntary suspension activities agreed upon in November 2004 was abided to until the resumption of activities at Isfahan's nuclear facility.

As all of the experts and professionals know, IAEA decisions are based on the work performed by the agency's inspectors and personnel and not the rumors propagated by some Zionist media which only are used as psychological warfare, the former head of Iran's SNSC said.

Elsewhere, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Wednesday termed latest Iran-Russia nuclear talks in Moscow as satisfactory, with the two sides reaching an agreement that Tehran case should be settled within the framework of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA.

Addressing reporters at his weekly press conference, the spokesman said Iran is holding negotiations with Russia, China, and Europe and will continue the talks until they yield a desirable result.

He referred to differences between the member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Iran's nuclear case, adding that the United States is trying to heap pressure on other member states.

"The US aims to cause tension and show that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), European countries, and Russia had an unsuccessful performance," added the official.

He noted support for Iran's right to have access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes is firstly support for an international body -- the IAEA -- and teamwork.

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